IN CONVERSATION WITH LARA WORTHINGTON

interview by JANA LETONJA

Lara Worthington is an Australian entrepreneur, model, and creative whose influence extends far beyond fashion. Known for her refined aesthetic and innovative approach to beauty, she has evolved from a breakout television personality into a globally recognized tastemaker and founder. With Ommage, her latest beauty venture, Lara channels her signature balance of minimalism and intention, offering products that challenge convention while celebrating authenticity. A visionary voice in modern style and self-expression, Lara continues to shape cultural conversations around what it means to be creative, confident, and conscious in today’s world—all while balancing life between Sydney, New York, and motherhood to three children with husband Sam Worthington.

You’ve had such an incredible evolution, from reality TV to fashion muse to founder. When you look back, how do you see your journey so far? 
I try not to look back. If I look back, I feel like I’m going backwards. It’s all about moving forward.

What inspired you to create Ommage, and how does it reflect where you are personally and creatively today? 

I look at my life in chapters. I was thinking about my next phase. When we moved to New York, everything felt so heightened for me culturally and creatively. I invested more time educating myself about art and design. It became part of my day to day. It’s what drives me. Colour and texture, the language and form of objects, art, travel and culture have all played a part in inspiring Ommage. That, and working with great people. I love modeling, but it only gives me that to a certain point. Making something where I can work with other creatives and artists, surrounding myself with people that are knowledgeable in their space has been the key. Trusting my intuition, and bringing the right people in, I love that side of it. That’s what that motivates me. I’m building a world. And I enjoy the whole process.

You’ve described Ommage as a beauty brand that “challenges convention with intention and detail.” What does that mean in practice? 

It’s the language of what you see that gives you a visceral feeling. Designing something new is what challenges. As opposed to the “off the shelf” or the “ready-made” object.  The form of imperfection is the running theme throughout, be it the colours or the form itself. You’ll understand when you see it. I like to push boundaries.

How does your past experience with The Base and Share The Base inform how you’re approaching this new chapter in beauty? 

The main thing I took from it is that you can do it. I created Share The Base on my own. It gave me so much confidence, seeing what I could achieve. I’m proud of what I created. The tinted face cream was great and became a bestseller fast. So, I’m bringing that formula back, into the Ommage world.

How do you balance instinct with strategy when it comes to building a brand with meaning? 

Honestly, my instinct was just to make cool things I wanted to exist.

You’ve often been praised for your minimalist yet expressive aesthetic. How has your style evolved over the years? 

I know it definitely has evolved. I think it’s a response to my life. The things I’ve seen, experienced, had access to. When I get dressed, I don’t think about my aesthetic. I just feel it. I try and create variations of that same thing. Whenever I feel like I have a uniform or feel bored, I just wear something else. I flip it. There’s nothing like feeling good in an outfit. You walk a different way, you present a different way. But ultimately, I just want to look like me.

What does beauty mean to you now compared to when you first entered the industry? 

I’ve sat in a makeup chair for 20 years of my life. I’ve learned a lot about makeup and beauty. I educate myself about skincare, formulations, ingredients. I’m very into the tips and tricks and wearing make-up. I’m on the cusp of Cancer and Gemini. I’m excited to put makeup on and go out, but I also can’t wait to get home and take it off. Beauty is this ephemeral thing. It’s fleeting. It evolves. And it’s fun. It doesn’t need to be serious. It doesn’t need to be difficult. It’s just another form to express yourself.

Sustainability and responsibility are key conversations in beauty today. How do you engage with those ideas? 

Launching a beauty brand in 2026 is a layered creation, from the formulations to the ingredients. All the products we’ve created are of course vegan and cruelty free. One of the products is refillable. But I also wanted to make something that people respect as an object. Not something that feels disposable. Something that has a feeling, an energy.

As an entrepreneur and mother, how do you navigate creativity and structure in your day-to-day life? 

It just becomes one thing. I intertwine all my worlds. I include my kids and husband in the process, creatively, strategically. I’m on all the time, so separating the worlds doesn’t really make sense. If I have to travel or go to a shoot, I try and take the kids. Or if I know I have to pick up the kids at a certain time from school, I’ll organise my afternoon so we can go to a gallery and see a show or something together. It’s the same for my husband. He told me once “You should marry your life with your family life”. So, I do.

What has motherhood taught you about creativity and self-expression? 

Two things. Freedom of self-expression and not looking for validation. My kids are creatively free and I’m constantly trying to learn from that. It helps me fall back into doing things I enjoy and just create instead of looking for validation. They love going to galleries with me and their excitement ends up inspiring the whole family.

The other thing is being able to adapt creatively. If something goes wrong or doesn’t go my way, it’s no big deal. I’ll just solve it and move on. I’ll always go back to being a mother. I come home and am totally grounded by them. It puts everything into perspective when you have lives to look after. A lipstick is a lipstick, we’re not breaking the wheel, we’re just presenting it in a new way. There’s a freedom in that too.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the next chapter, and for the creative space at large?

Seeing Ommage move from an idea into something real, living in the world, in the hands of people using it, and being inspired by that as I explore how far it can go.